Reading Help Peter-pan BY J. M. BARRIE
"No, lads, no, it's the girl. Never was luck on a pirate ship `
` wi' a woman on board. We'll right the ship when she's gone." `
` `
` Some of them remembered that this had been a saying of `
` Flint's. "It's worth trying," they said doubtfully. `
` `
` "Fling the girl overboard," cried Hook; and they made a rush at `
` the figure in the cloak. `
` `
` "There's none can save you now, missy," Mullins hissed `
` jeeringly. `
` `
` "There's one," replied the figure. `
` `
` "Who's that?" `
` `
` "Peter Pan the avenger!" came the terrible answer; and as he `
` spoke Peter flung off his cloak. Then they all knew who 'twas `
` that had been undoing them in the cabin, and twice Hook essayed `
` to speak and twice he failed. In that frightful moment I think `
` his fierce heart broke. `
` `
` At last he cried, "Cleave him to the brisket!" but without `
` conviction. `
` `
` "Down, boys, and at them!" Peter's voice rang out; and in `
` another moment the clash of arms was resounding through the ship. `
` Had the pirates kept together it is certain that they would have `
` won; but the onset came when they were still unstrung, and they `
` ran hither and thither, striking wildly, each thinking himself `
` the last survivor of the crew. Man to man they were the `
` stronger; but they fought on the defensive only, which enabled `
` the boys to hunt in pairs and choose their quarry. Some of the `
` miscreants leapt into the sea; others hid in dark recesses, where `
` they were found by Slightly, who did not fight, but ran about `
` with a lantern which he flashed in their faces, so that they were `
` half blinded and fell as an easy prey to the reeking swords of `
` the other boys. There was little sound to be heard but the clang `
` of weapons, an occasional screech or splash, and Slightly `
` monotonously counting -- five -- six -- seven -- eight -- nine -- `
` ten -- eleven. `
` `
` I think all were gone when a group of savage boys surrounded `
` Hook, who seemed to have a charmed life, as he kept them at bay `
` in that circle of fire. They had done for his dogs, but this man `
` alone seemed to be a match for them all. Again and again they `
` closed upon him, and again and again he hewed a clear space. He `
` had lifted up one boy with his hook, and was using him as a `
` buckler [shield], when another, who had just passed his sword `
` through Mullins, sprang into the fray. `
` `
` "Put up your swords, boys," cried the newcomer, "this man is `
` mine." `
` `
` Thus suddenly Hook found himself face to face with Peter. The `
` others drew back and formed a ring around them. `
` `
` For long the two enemies looked at one another, Hook shuddering `
` slightly, and Peter with the strange smile upon his face. `
` `
` "So, Pan," said Hook at last, "this is all your doing." `
` `
` "Ay, James Hook," came the stern answer, "it is all my doing." `
` `
` "Proud and insolent youth," said Hook, "prepare to meet thy `
` doom." `
` `
` "Dark and sinister man," Peter answered, "have at thee." `
` `
` Without more words they fell to, and for a space there was no `
` advantage to either blade. Peter was a superb swordsman, and `
` parried with dazzling rapidity; ever and anon he followed up a `
` feint with a lunge that got past his foe's defence, but his `
` shorter reach stood him in ill stead, and he could not drive the `
` steel home. Hook, scarcely his inferior in brilliancy, but not `
` quite so nimble in wrist play, forced him back by the weight of `
` his onset, hoping suddenly to end all with a favourite thrust, `
` taught him long ago by Barbecue at Rio; but to his astonishment he `
` found this thrust turned aside again and again. Then he sought to `
` close and give the quietus with his iron hook, which all this time `
` had been pawing the air; but Peter doubled under it and, lunging `
` fiercely, pierced him in the ribs. At the sight of his own blood, `
` whose peculiar colour, you remember, was offensive to him, `
` the sword fell from Hook's hand, and he was at Peter's mercy. `
` `
` "Now!" cried all the boys, but with a magnificent gesture Peter `
` invited his opponent to pick up his sword. Hook did so instantly, `
` but with a tragic feeling that Peter was showing good form. `
` `
` Hitherto he had thought it was some fiend fighting him, but `
` darker suspicions assailed him now. `
` `
` "Pan, who and what art thou?" he cried huskily. `
` `
` "I'm youth, I'm joy," Peter answered at a venture, "I'm a `
` little bird that has broken out of the egg." `
` `
` This, of course, was nonsense; but it was proof to the unhappy `
` Hook that Peter did not know in the least who or what he was, `
` which is the very pinnacle of good form. `
` `
` "To't again," he cried despairingly. `
` `
` He fought now like a human flail, and every sweep of that `
` terrible sword would have severed in twain any man or boy who `
` obstructed it; but Peter fluttered round him as if the very wind `
` it made blew him out of the danger zone. And again and again he `
` darted in and pricked. `
` `
` Hook was fighting now without hope. That passionate breast no `
` longer asked for life; but for one boon it craved: to see Peter `
` show bad form before it was cold forever. `
` `
` Abandoning the fight he rushed into the powder magazine and `
` fired it. `
` `
` "In two minutes," he cried, "the ship will be blown to pieces." `
` `
` Now, now, he thought, true form will show. `
` `
` But Peter issued from the powder magazine with the shell in his `
` hands, and calmly flung it overboard. `
` `
` What sort of form was Hook himself showing? Misguided man `
` though he was, we may be glad, without sympathising with him, `
` that in the end he was true to the traditions of his race. The `
` other boys were flying around him now, flouting, scornful; and he `
` staggered about the deck striking up at them impotently, his mind `
` was no longer with them; it was slouching in the playing fields `
` of long ago, or being sent up [to the headmaster] for good, or `
` watching the wall-game from a famous wall. And his shoes were `
` right, and his waistcoat was right, and his tie was right, and `
` his socks were right. `
` `
` James Hook, thou not wholly unheroic figure, farewell. `
` `
` For we have come to his last moment. `
` `
` Seeing Peter slowly advancing upon him through the air with `
` dagger poised, he sprang upon the bulwarks to cast himself into `
` the sea. He did not know that the crocodile was waiting for `
` him; for we purposely stopped the clock that this knowledge might `
` be spared him: a little mark of respect from us at the end. `
` `
` He had one last triumph, which I think we need not grudge him. `
` As he stood on the bulwark looking over his shoulder at Peter `
` gliding through the air, he invited him with a gesture to use his `
` foot. It made Peter kick instead of stab. `
` `
` At last Hook had got the boon for which he craved. `
` `
` "Bad form," he cried jeeringly, and went content to the `
` crocodile. `
` `
` Thus perished James Hook. `
` `
` "Seventeen," Slightly sang out; but he was not quite correct in `
` his figures. Fifteen paid the penalty for their crimes that `
` night; but two reached the shore: Starkey to be captured by the `
` redskins, who made him nurse for all their papooses, a melancholy `
` come-down for a pirate; and Smee, who henceforth wandered about `
` the world in his spectacles, making a precarious living by saying `
` he was the only man that Jas. Hook had feared. `
` `
` Wendy, of course, had stood by taking no part in the fight, `
` though watching Peter with glistening eyes; but now that all was `
` over she became prominent again. She praised them equally, and `
` shuddered delightfully when Michael showed her the place where he `
` had killed one; and then she took them into Hook's cabin and `
` pointed to his watch which was hanging on a nail. It said "half- `
` past one!" `
` `
` The lateness of the hour was almost the biggest thing of all. `
` She got them to bed in the pirates' bunks pretty quickly, you may `
` be sure; all but Peter, who strutted up and down on the deck, `
` until at last he fell asleep by the side of Long Tom. He had one `
` of his dreams that night, and cried in his sleep for a long time, `
` and Wendy held him tightly. `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter 16 `
` `
` THE RETURN HOME `
` `
` `
` By three bells that morning they were all stirring their stumps `
` [legs]; for there was a big sea running; and Tootles, the bo'sun, `
` was among them, with a rope's end in his hand and chewing `
` tobacco. They all donned pirate clothes cut off at the knee, `
` shaved smartly, and tumbled up, with the true nautical roll and `
` hitching their trousers. `
` `
` It need not be said who was the captain. Nibs and John were `
` first and second mate. There was a woman aboard. The rest were `
` tars [sailors] before the mast, and lived in the fo'c'sle. Peter `
` had already lashed himself to the wheel; but he piped all hands `
` and delivered a short address to them; said he hoped they would `
` do their duty like gallant hearties, but that he knew they were `
` the scum of Rio and the Gold Coast, and if they snapped at him he `
` would tear them. The bluff strident words struck the note `
`
` wi' a woman on board. We'll right the ship when she's gone." `
` `
` Some of them remembered that this had been a saying of `
` Flint's. "It's worth trying," they said doubtfully. `
` `
` "Fling the girl overboard," cried Hook; and they made a rush at `
` the figure in the cloak. `
` `
` "There's none can save you now, missy," Mullins hissed `
` jeeringly. `
` `
` "There's one," replied the figure. `
` `
` "Who's that?" `
` `
` "Peter Pan the avenger!" came the terrible answer; and as he `
` spoke Peter flung off his cloak. Then they all knew who 'twas `
` that had been undoing them in the cabin, and twice Hook essayed `
` to speak and twice he failed. In that frightful moment I think `
` his fierce heart broke. `
` `
` At last he cried, "Cleave him to the brisket!" but without `
` conviction. `
` `
` "Down, boys, and at them!" Peter's voice rang out; and in `
` another moment the clash of arms was resounding through the ship. `
` Had the pirates kept together it is certain that they would have `
` won; but the onset came when they were still unstrung, and they `
` ran hither and thither, striking wildly, each thinking himself `
` the last survivor of the crew. Man to man they were the `
` stronger; but they fought on the defensive only, which enabled `
` the boys to hunt in pairs and choose their quarry. Some of the `
` miscreants leapt into the sea; others hid in dark recesses, where `
` they were found by Slightly, who did not fight, but ran about `
` with a lantern which he flashed in their faces, so that they were `
` half blinded and fell as an easy prey to the reeking swords of `
` the other boys. There was little sound to be heard but the clang `
` of weapons, an occasional screech or splash, and Slightly `
` monotonously counting -- five -- six -- seven -- eight -- nine -- `
` ten -- eleven. `
` `
` I think all were gone when a group of savage boys surrounded `
` Hook, who seemed to have a charmed life, as he kept them at bay `
` in that circle of fire. They had done for his dogs, but this man `
` alone seemed to be a match for them all. Again and again they `
` closed upon him, and again and again he hewed a clear space. He `
` had lifted up one boy with his hook, and was using him as a `
` buckler [shield], when another, who had just passed his sword `
` through Mullins, sprang into the fray. `
` `
` "Put up your swords, boys," cried the newcomer, "this man is `
` mine." `
` `
` Thus suddenly Hook found himself face to face with Peter. The `
` others drew back and formed a ring around them. `
` `
` For long the two enemies looked at one another, Hook shuddering `
` slightly, and Peter with the strange smile upon his face. `
` `
` "So, Pan," said Hook at last, "this is all your doing." `
` `
` "Ay, James Hook," came the stern answer, "it is all my doing." `
` `
` "Proud and insolent youth," said Hook, "prepare to meet thy `
` doom." `
` `
` "Dark and sinister man," Peter answered, "have at thee." `
` `
` Without more words they fell to, and for a space there was no `
` advantage to either blade. Peter was a superb swordsman, and `
` parried with dazzling rapidity; ever and anon he followed up a `
` feint with a lunge that got past his foe's defence, but his `
` shorter reach stood him in ill stead, and he could not drive the `
` steel home. Hook, scarcely his inferior in brilliancy, but not `
` quite so nimble in wrist play, forced him back by the weight of `
` his onset, hoping suddenly to end all with a favourite thrust, `
` taught him long ago by Barbecue at Rio; but to his astonishment he `
` found this thrust turned aside again and again. Then he sought to `
` close and give the quietus with his iron hook, which all this time `
` had been pawing the air; but Peter doubled under it and, lunging `
` fiercely, pierced him in the ribs. At the sight of his own blood, `
` whose peculiar colour, you remember, was offensive to him, `
` the sword fell from Hook's hand, and he was at Peter's mercy. `
` `
` "Now!" cried all the boys, but with a magnificent gesture Peter `
` invited his opponent to pick up his sword. Hook did so instantly, `
` but with a tragic feeling that Peter was showing good form. `
` `
` Hitherto he had thought it was some fiend fighting him, but `
` darker suspicions assailed him now. `
` `
` "Pan, who and what art thou?" he cried huskily. `
` `
` "I'm youth, I'm joy," Peter answered at a venture, "I'm a `
` little bird that has broken out of the egg." `
` `
` This, of course, was nonsense; but it was proof to the unhappy `
` Hook that Peter did not know in the least who or what he was, `
` which is the very pinnacle of good form. `
` `
` "To't again," he cried despairingly. `
` `
` He fought now like a human flail, and every sweep of that `
` terrible sword would have severed in twain any man or boy who `
` obstructed it; but Peter fluttered round him as if the very wind `
` it made blew him out of the danger zone. And again and again he `
` darted in and pricked. `
` `
` Hook was fighting now without hope. That passionate breast no `
` longer asked for life; but for one boon it craved: to see Peter `
` show bad form before it was cold forever. `
` `
` Abandoning the fight he rushed into the powder magazine and `
` fired it. `
` `
` "In two minutes," he cried, "the ship will be blown to pieces." `
` `
` Now, now, he thought, true form will show. `
` `
` But Peter issued from the powder magazine with the shell in his `
` hands, and calmly flung it overboard. `
` `
` What sort of form was Hook himself showing? Misguided man `
` though he was, we may be glad, without sympathising with him, `
` that in the end he was true to the traditions of his race. The `
` other boys were flying around him now, flouting, scornful; and he `
` staggered about the deck striking up at them impotently, his mind `
` was no longer with them; it was slouching in the playing fields `
` of long ago, or being sent up [to the headmaster] for good, or `
` watching the wall-game from a famous wall. And his shoes were `
` right, and his waistcoat was right, and his tie was right, and `
` his socks were right. `
` `
` James Hook, thou not wholly unheroic figure, farewell. `
` `
` For we have come to his last moment. `
` `
` Seeing Peter slowly advancing upon him through the air with `
` dagger poised, he sprang upon the bulwarks to cast himself into `
` the sea. He did not know that the crocodile was waiting for `
` him; for we purposely stopped the clock that this knowledge might `
` be spared him: a little mark of respect from us at the end. `
` `
` He had one last triumph, which I think we need not grudge him. `
` As he stood on the bulwark looking over his shoulder at Peter `
` gliding through the air, he invited him with a gesture to use his `
` foot. It made Peter kick instead of stab. `
` `
` At last Hook had got the boon for which he craved. `
` `
` "Bad form," he cried jeeringly, and went content to the `
` crocodile. `
` `
` Thus perished James Hook. `
` `
` "Seventeen," Slightly sang out; but he was not quite correct in `
` his figures. Fifteen paid the penalty for their crimes that `
` night; but two reached the shore: Starkey to be captured by the `
` redskins, who made him nurse for all their papooses, a melancholy `
` come-down for a pirate; and Smee, who henceforth wandered about `
` the world in his spectacles, making a precarious living by saying `
` he was the only man that Jas. Hook had feared. `
` `
` Wendy, of course, had stood by taking no part in the fight, `
` though watching Peter with glistening eyes; but now that all was `
` over she became prominent again. She praised them equally, and `
` shuddered delightfully when Michael showed her the place where he `
` had killed one; and then she took them into Hook's cabin and `
` pointed to his watch which was hanging on a nail. It said "half- `
` past one!" `
` `
` The lateness of the hour was almost the biggest thing of all. `
` She got them to bed in the pirates' bunks pretty quickly, you may `
` be sure; all but Peter, who strutted up and down on the deck, `
` until at last he fell asleep by the side of Long Tom. He had one `
` of his dreams that night, and cried in his sleep for a long time, `
` and Wendy held him tightly. `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter 16 `
` `
` THE RETURN HOME `
` `
` `
` By three bells that morning they were all stirring their stumps `
` [legs]; for there was a big sea running; and Tootles, the bo'sun, `
` was among them, with a rope's end in his hand and chewing `
` tobacco. They all donned pirate clothes cut off at the knee, `
` shaved smartly, and tumbled up, with the true nautical roll and `
` hitching their trousers. `
` `
` It need not be said who was the captain. Nibs and John were `
` first and second mate. There was a woman aboard. The rest were `
` tars [sailors] before the mast, and lived in the fo'c'sle. Peter `
` had already lashed himself to the wheel; but he piped all hands `
` and delivered a short address to them; said he hoped they would `
` do their duty like gallant hearties, but that he knew they were `
` the scum of Rio and the Gold Coast, and if they snapped at him he `
` would tear them. The bluff strident words struck the note `
`